Post‐traumatic stress disorder in nurses: An integrative review

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: To synthesise literature regarding PTSD among nurses. Two objectives guided this review: (a) describe the prevalence of PTSD in registered nurses and (b) identify factors associated with nursing work-related PTSD. Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that can occur from direct or indirect exposure to traumatic events. Nurses are at risk of developing PTSD due to their indirect and/or direct exposure to traumatic situations while providing care to vulnerable patient populations. Design: An integrative review. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Data extraction and quality assessment were independently performed by two reviewers. Data analysis procedures consisted of four concurrent activities: data reduction, data display, data comparison and conclusion drawing and verification. Conclusions were narratively synthesised and thematically presented by review objective using PRISMA guidelines. Results: Twenty-four articles met criteria for review. One theme emerged from the synthesis of literature describing the prevalence of PTSD in nurses: All Over the Board. Authors reported vastly different PTSD prevalence rates across studies likely due to variability in measurement. Four themes emerged from the synthesis of factors that influence PTSD among nurses: The Workplace Matters, Relationships Matter, It Hurts to Care and Interpersonal Strengths. These overarching themes captured a multitude of factors that occur across three levels of influence: organisational, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Conclusions: This integrative review highlights PTSD as a growing concern in the nursing profession. The thematic analysis and associated subthemes provide a framework for the design of interventions to reduce the risk of PTSD symptom development among nurses working in inpatient settings.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Canadian critical care nurses providing patient care during the early phase pandemic: A mixed method study

“…The survey responses of participants in our study suggested poor mental health specific to symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety and stress. Prior to COVID-19, reported PTSD rates among nurses ranged from 8.5% to 20.8% ( Schuster & Dwyer, 2020 ). A review of PTSD symptoms in healthcare providers during three recent coronavirus outbreaks, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, suggests a high mental health burden, with mild to severe PTSD symptoms reported in up to 71.5% of staff ( Carmassi et al, 2020 ;).…”

Salutary factors explaining why hospital nurses remain in work and the profession

“…These results highlight how important it is for nurses to be able to deal with stress, in both the short and the long term. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the focus of a study among registered nurses working in a variety of sub-specialties and from twelve different countries [10]. Findings from this integrative review revealed that PTSD is a growing concern in the nursing profession.…”

Salutary factors explaining why hospital nurses remain in work and the profession

“…These results highlight how important it is for nurses to be able to deal with stress, in both the short and the long term. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the focus of a study among nurses working in a variety of sub-specialties and from 12 different countries [10]. Findings from this integrative review revealed that PTSD is a growing concern in the nursing profession.…”